Girl Rising Documentary Film & Benefit in Gig Harbor October 28th

Gig Harbor, WA, October 14th, 2013 – Uptown’s Galaxy Theatre will be the host of the Girl Rising Gig Harbor film and benefit, on October 28th, 2013 at 5:30 pm. Girl Rising is a groundbreaking film, directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins and narrated by celebrity actress Meryl Streep among others. At the heart of the film is the desire to educate girls and change the world. The doors will open at 5:30 pm with a silent auction and raffle prior to the film screening at 6:30 pm.

An innovative documentary, Girl Rising was created by 10x10, a global action campaign founded by journalists from The Documentary Group and Vulcan Productions along with their partner Intel Corp. It tells the stories of nine extraordinary young women from their countries, written by celebrated writers and narrated by renowned actresses, including Cate Blanchett, Prinyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloe Grace Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto, Kerry Washington & Meryl Streep. Girl Rising showcases the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world. More information about this film is available at www.girlrising.com.

Prior to the film screening, the National Director of World Vision’s Women of Vision Cindy Breihl, will introduce the film. Strong Women Strong World is a Woman of Vision initiative that supports sustainable change in some of the most difficult places in the world to be a girl or a woman. Also featured will be Hilary Sparrow from Vulcan Productions, a co-producer of the film.

Scott Smalling, a Gig Harbor native spearheaded the effort to bring the film to the Gig Harbor community. "After viewing this extraordinary film, in combination with the transformational movement started by Malala Yousafzai I knew I had to do something to increase awareness around educating and protecting the some 600 million young women in developing countries”, says an enthusiastic and passionate Smalling. “Many of us in the 21st century are astonished by how people in the US allowed slavery to exist only 100 years ago and yet today, many things, some worse, happen all over world."

Proceeds from this Gig Harbor event will benefit three local organizations; Strong Women Strong World, YWCA of Pierce County, and Jubilee Women’s Center.

Galaxy Theatre is located at 4649 Point Fosdick Drive Northwest in Gig Harbor. Tickets are limited and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/477738. Ticket prices are $15 general adult admission and $7.50 children 18 and under.